The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-22

1--WE heard that a thousand times,
Neighbor Hood" Haden answered,
with a hot, angry flush on his dark
cheeks, "and don't like it any better
from hearing it so often. It's an UNI
grateful speech, anyway, for my dogs
almost provide the settlement with ven
ison and game when it's needed and
they amt beholden to you for keeping
them" As he rides off, we will take a
good look at him, for this story would |
never have been written had it not
been for Ike Haden and his dogs.
He was only eighteen, although he
looked several years older. Those keen |
eyes of his took in every thing at a
glance, and his Judgment, if swift, was
remarkably good. Brave as the bray
est, his clear, cool head decided rap
idly, and then took every risk. In spite
of his youth, he was considered one of
the most intelligent and trusty mem
bers of the little community. People
said he had but one weakness, and that
was his dogs, his constant companions
by day and night. He rode rapidly
away and soon overlook the wagon con-
tanning the Wilson's. "Do you know
Hood positively insists upon camping
on the creek tonight" he said. "He
could have made the two miles to the
fort if he had chosen to do so, and Of
fered to stay behind and help him, if
he needed help, but he wouldn't listen
to me-"
Camp outp' Wilson exclaimed.
"With all those women and children,
too! Why, he's insane, and worse, if
he does such thing! Why didn't you
make them come on, Ike? It's too late
for me to turn back now"
II said all 1 could" Haden answered.;
"but Hood didn't like it. He snubbed'
me about my dogs, and was so insult
ing in what he said of father, that 1 got
mad, too, and left him.
John Wilson laughed, and Ike bent
to caress a monstrous hound, which,
when his master paused for minute,
would plant his forepaws on his foot in
the stirrup, and raising himself up,
look gravely and questioningly in his
owners face.
Down, Captainl'' he said, as the line
of march was taken up again. 'LoOk
here, Neighbor Wilson, Cap, here, has
as much sense as any of us, and more
than most. He understands every word
he hears, and when he looks in my face
that way, he means: "What is to be
done next?"
There's the fortn' exclaimed Will
son. Suppose you ride ahead with the
dogs. If there are Injuns around per-
haps they'll smell em out"
That night there was no sleep for Ike
Haden. He tossed and turned on his
hard pallet in the fort, thinking of the
family left behind. Accounts of other
Indian massacres had come to the fort
that night, and the savages seemed to
strike in several places at once. At the
dawn of day he was up, and with his
dogs started to meet the Hoods. %
somehow feel anxious about those
folks" he said to the other men.
In less than half an hour he gallopeC
back. No man had ever before seer
Ike Haden really excited, but now
when he dismounted from his horse, his
face was CHASTITY, and his parcheC
tongue could scarcely articulate.
, "They're all murdered out there! al
but four men who somehow managed
to hide in the bushes and are now com
/ ing in. 1t was a dreadful sight-men
women, and little children all muir
f deredw And sick and faint at tn,
thought of what he had beheld, TX,
7 Haden sat down, unable longer to stand
} Not a word was said by the men il
! the fort. Not from want of feeling
: but the knowledge that the fate of tn
l murdered family might be theirs tn
4 very next hour gave no time for mourn
d ing A strong detachment set out i'm
: mediately and brought the dead bodie
g in.
S awe had better bury them here with
S in the walls, said John Wilson. "Whe
!. this scare is over, we can easily NOV
9 them. 1 don't like going outside tn
g stockade."
/, II don't think there's any danger,
, Captain Ames replied. 1.-The scout
r have Just come in and say that the II
d dian trail shows that they have gon
h south. We had better bury the bodiC
Il In the valley. It's so near, we can g
/. to the fort at the first alarm"
y So il was decided. When the buri'
procession set forth, the gates of I'll
i" fortress were left open so that the
d could rush in at minutes notice. u
e Haden had gone after some COWS whiC
re had strayed from the fort, and on who
at milk the children depended for foo
and had taken his dogs with him.
III he had been IN the procession, the ket
>" scent of his hounds would have detects
so the Prophet Francis and his Indian
IL who, fiat on their faces, were hidden